Habs, Rangers coaches put on a show ahead of Game 4 of Eastern Conference final

The Canadian Press

Habs, Rangers coaches put on a show ahead of Game 4 of Eastern Conference final

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Rangers coach Alain Vigneault has fired back at the Canadiens, saying there is no such thing as a gentleman's agreement that coaches not watch the other team practise on off-days.

Montreal coach Michel Therrien was unhappy Saturday that two New York assistant coaches were on hand for the team's off-day skate, asking them in no uncertain terms to leave.

Vigneault responded Sunday by saying his staff was treated unfairly.

He said there was no agreement in place and he called such deals the exception rather than the rule in hockey.

If they happen, he said it's because the opposing coach or GM calls to ask for it.

Vigneault called the Montreal behaviour regrettable, adding it was lucky the situation did not escalate.

Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final goes Sunday night. New York leads the series two games to one.

Vigneault said Derek Stepan, whose jaw was broken by Brandon Prust in Game 3, was recovering at home from surgery. He called forward Derick Brassard a game-time decision but said it looked likely he would play. Brassard has been out since early in Game 1 with an upper body injury.

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I don't have a crystal ball. Predicting is a real complicated thing. If we stay healthy, have enough depth and get the good goaltending we think we're going to have, you can go all the way. But a lot of things have to happen. There's going to be a lot of teams that think the same thing. Everyone made deals. We're all are optimistic about where we'll end up.

— Rangers general manager Glen Sather after being asked if he's constructed a team that can win the Stanley Cup before their 4-1 win against the Predators on Monday